Modular RF Devices

ABSTRACT

A modular passive RF apparatus includes a passive RF portal and a passive RF expansion module configured to be removably coupled with the passive RF portal. A male connector is configured to extend from a top surface of the passive RF portal, and a female connector is configured to extend from the first end wall of the passive RF expansion portal. The female connector is configured to slidingly engage the male connector in a direction parallel to the top surface of the passive RF portal in order to mechanically couple the passive RF expansion module with the passive RF portal, and the male connector is configured to prevent the female connector from being removed from the male connector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the passive RF portal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This nonprovisional application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/618,074, filed Jan. 17, 2018. The disclosure of theprior application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

Conventional radio frequency (RF) devices, for example, amplifiers andsplitters, include one input and a finite number of outputs. When a userrequires more than the finite number of outputs provided on the RFdevice, the user is required to add a discrete additional device to addcapability to the RF device. Alternatively, the user can replace the RFdevice with a larger RF device having a greater number of outputs thatmeets the user's needs. When replacing the RF device, the existingconnections must be disrupted.

Also, in order to minimize a spatial footprint occupied by the RFdevice, user's will prefer to have a compact RF device that does notinclude an unnecessary number of output ports that will likely never beused. Further, larger devices with more output ports will be moreexpensive. Thus, in order to cover a large range of user needs,suppliers and installers would need to maintain an inventory thatincludes numerous sized RF devices with different numbers of ports toaccommodate all users, which increases inventory costs.

Some passive RF devices provide cable network connectivity to broadbanddevices, such as a DVR and modem, while connecting MoCA (Multimedia overCoax Alliance) devices to the DVR through an isolated internal network.Such passive RF devices typically include an input port and a fixednumber of output ports. Some of the output ports may be configured forconnection with broadband device, while other ones of the output portsmay be configured for connection with MoCA devices only.

As discussed above, when a user requires more ports than are provided onthe RF device, the user must either replace the RF device with a usuallylarger device that includes more output ports or connect one of theoutput ports of the RF device to an expansion module that providesadditional output ports. In either case, the spatial footprint occupiedby the larger RF device or by expansion module is increased. Forexample, if the RF device is attached to a mounting panel or to a wall,additional space on the mounting panel or the wall is occupied by thelarger RF device or the expansion module.

It may be desirable to provide a modular RF device that permits a userto expand the number of outputs by adding a modular unit in a mannerthat minimizes an increase in the spatial footprint while allowing easyaccess to all of the ports of the modular RF device. It may further bedesirable to provide a modular device that includes interlocking modularunits that can be secured together to create an integrated largerfunctional block. Further is may be desirable to provide a modulardevice that permits an existing user to upgrade a passive RF device bymerely adding an expansion module without disrupting existingconnections, thereby saving time and reducing customer inventory costsby eliminating the need to stock quantities of multiple sizes of RFdevices.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure, a modular passiveMoCA apparatus is configured to provide cable network connectivity tobroadband devices, while connecting MoCA devices to the broadbanddevices. The apparatus includes a passive RF portal that includes aninput port configured to receive a cable that provides cable networkconnectivity and a plurality of output ports configured to receivecables that provide electrical connectivity with the broadband devicesand the MoCA devices and a passive RF expansion module configured to beremovably coupled with the passive RF portal.

In some aspects, the passive RF expansion module includes an input portconfigured to receive a cable that provides electrical connectivity withone of the plurality of output ports of the passive RF portal and aplurality of output ports configured to receive cables that provideelectrical connectivity with additional MoCA devices.

According to various aspects, the input port and the plurality of outputports of the passive RF portal extend from a front surface of thepassive RF portal, and the input port and the plurality of output portsof the passive RF expansion module extend from a front surface of thepassive RF expansion module.

In various aspects, the passive RF portal includes a top surface and abottom surface extending from a first pair of opposite ends of the frontsurface of the passive RF portal, the top surface and the bottom surfaceof the passive RF portal extending perpendicular to the front surface ofthe passive RF portal.

According to some aspects, the bottom surface of the passive RF portalis configured to face a surface of a structure when the passive RFportal is attached to the structure.

According to various aspects, a male connector is configured to extendfrom the top surface of the passive RF portal, the male connectorincluding a stem that is configured to extend from the top surface ofthe passive RF portal and is terminated by an enlarged head.

In some aspects, the passive RF expansion module includes a top surfaceand a bottom surface extending from a first pair of opposite ends of thefront surface of the passive RF expansion module, the top surface andthe bottom surface of the passive RF expansion module extendingperpendicular to the front surface of the passive RF expansion module.

In various aspects, the passive RF expansion module includes a first endwall and a second end wall extending from a second pair of opposite endsof the front surface of the passive RF expansion module, the first endwall and the second end wall of the passive RF expansion moduleextending perpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, and thebottom surface of the passive RF expansion module.

According to some aspects, a flange having a U-shaped notch that forms afemale connector is configured to extend from the first end wall of thepassive RF expansion portal proximate with and parallel to the bottomsurface of the passive RF expansion module.

In various aspects, the female connector is configured to slidinglyengage the stem of the male connector in a direction parallel to the topsurface of the passive RF portal in order to mechanically couple thepassive RF expansion module with the passive RF portal, and the head ofthe male connector is configured to prevent the female connector frombeing removed from the male connector in a direction perpendicular tothe top surface of the passive RF portal.

In some aspects, the passive RF portal includes a first end wall and asecond end wall extending from a second pair of opposite ends of thefront surface of the passive RF portal, the first end wall and thesecond end wall of the passive RF portal extending perpendicular to thefront surface, the top surface, and the bottom surface of the passive RFportal.

According to various aspects, a mounting portion is configured to extendfrom the second end wall of the passive RF portal proximate and parallelto the top surface of the passive RF portal.

According to some aspects, a second flange is configured to extend fromthe second end wall of the passive RF expansion module proximate withand parallel to the bottom surface of the passive RF expansion module.

In various aspects, the mounting portion and the second flange areconfigured to receive a fastener for fixedly coupling the passive RFexpansion module to the passive RF portal.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a modular passive RFapparatus includes a passive RF portal that includes an input portconfigured to receive cable network connectivity and a plurality ofoutput ports configured to provide electrical connectivity with aplurality of broadband devices and a plurality of MoCA devices and apassive RF expansion module configured to be removably coupled with thepassive RF portal.

In some aspects, the passive RF expansion module includes an input portconfigured to receive electrical connectivity with one of the pluralityof output ports of the passive RF portal and a plurality of output portsconfigured to provide electrical connectivity with additional MoCAdevices.

According to various aspects, the input port and the plurality of outputports of the passive RF portal extend from a front surface of thepassive RF portal, and the input port and the plurality of output portsof the passive RF expansion module extend from a front surface of thepassive RF expansion module.

According to some aspects, the passive RF portal includes a top surfaceand a bottom surface that are parallel to one another and perpendicularto the front surface of the passive RF portal.

In various aspects, a male connector is configured to extend from thetop surface of the passive RF portal.

According to various aspects, the passive RF expansion module includes atop surface and a bottom surface that are parallel to one another andperpendicular to the front surface of the passive RF expansion module.

In some aspects, the passive RF expansion module includes a first endwall and a second end wall that are parallel to one another andperpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, and the bottomsurface of the passive RF expansion module.

According to some aspects, a female connector is configured to extendfrom the first end wall of the passive RF expansion portal.

In various aspects, the female connector is configured to slidinglyengage the male connector in a direction parallel to the top surface ofthe passive RF portal in order to mechanically couple the passive RFexpansion module with the passive RF portal, and the male connector isconfigured to prevent the female connector from being removed from themale connector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of thepassive RF portal.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, a modular passive RF apparatusincludes a passive RF portal and a passive RF expansion moduleconfigured to be removably coupled with the passive RF portal. A maleconnector is configured to extend from a top surface of the passive RFportal, and a female connector is configured to extend from the firstend wall of the passive RF expansion portal. The female connector isconfigured to slidingly engage the male connector in a directionparallel to the top surface of the passive RF portal in order tomechanically couple the passive RF expansion module with the passive RFportal, and the male connector is configured to prevent the femaleconnector from being removed from the male connector in a directionperpendicular to the top surface of the passive RF portal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary modular RF device inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the modular RF device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the modular RF device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the passive portal of the modular RFdevice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the passive portal of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the passive portal of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the passive expansion module of themodular RF device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the passive expansion module of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the passive expansion module of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a first perspective view of another exemplary modular RFdevice in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a second perspective view of the modular RF device of FIG.10.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the modular RF device of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the modular RF device of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the modular RF device of FIG. 10

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the exemplary connecting post in FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is an end view of the passive portal of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a modular RF device 300 in a stacked configurationin accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Accordingto various aspects, the modular RF device 300 is a passive MoCAapparatus, a passive RF splitter, or the like. The modular device 300includes a passive RF portal 100 and a passive expansion module 200 inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, the passive RF portal 100 includes a frontsurface 102, a back surface 104, a top surface 106, and a bottom surface108. The passive RF portal 100 also includes a first end wall 110 and anopposite second end wall 112. The front surface 102 includes a pluralityof ports 120, 122, 124, 126, 132, 134, 136, 138 extending therefrom.According to various aspects of the disclosure, port 120 is configuredas an input port, and ports 122, 124, 126, 132, 134, 136, 138 areconfigured as output ports. For example, ports 122, 124, 126 may beconfigured as access ports providing broadband and MoCA outputs, andports 132, 134, 136, 138 may be configured as home ports providingMoCA-only outputs.

Referring now to FIG. 16, the top surface 106 includes a male connectingmember 140 extending upward from the top surface 106. The maleconnecting member 140 includes a stem 142 with an enlarged head 144 atthe end of the stem 142 opposite to the top surface 106.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the first end wall 110 includes agrounding portion 150 having a first opening 152 configured to receive aground wire and a second opening 154 extending substantiallyperpendicular to the first opening 152 and configured to receive afixing member, for example, a screw, that is threadedly received by thesecond opening 154. The second opening 154 extends into the firstopening 152 so that the fixing member can fixedly couple the ground wireto the grounding portion 150.

A first flange portion 156 extends from the first end wall 110 proximateand parallel to the bottom surface 108. The first flange portion 156includes an opening 158 configured to receive a fastener to secure thepassive RF portal 100 to a structure 900, for example, a mounting panel,a wall, or the like. A second flange portion 166 extends from the secondend wall 112 proximate and parallel to the bottom surface 108. Thesecond flange portion 166 may include an opening 168 configured toreceive a fastener to secure the passive RF portal 100 to theaforementioned structure. A mounting portion 170 extends from the secondend wall 112 proximate and parallel to the top surface 106. The mountingportion 170 includes an opening 172, for example, a threaded opening,configured to receive a threaded fastener. In some aspects, the opening172 may be unthreaded, and the fastener may thread itself into theopening 172.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, the passive expansion module 200 includes afront surface 202, a back surface 204, a top surface 206, and a bottomsurface 208. The passive expansion module 200 also includes a first endwall 210 and an opposite second end wall 212. The front surface 202includes a plurality of ports 220, 232, 234, 236, 238 extendingtherefrom. According to various aspects of the disclosure, port 220 isconfigured as an input port, and ports 232, 234, 236, 238 are configuredas output ports. For example, ports 232, 234, 236, 238 may be home portsproviding MoCA-only outputs.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, a first flange portion 256 extendsfrom the first end wall 210 proximate and parallel to the bottom surface208. The first flange portion 256 includes a female connecting member260. The female connecting member 260 includes a U-shaped notch 262 thatis sized to receive the stem 142 of the male connecting member 140 ofthe passive portal 100, but is sized smaller than the enlarged head 144.The female connecting member 260 is configured to be coupled with thestem 142 of the male connecting member 140 by sliding the femaleconnecting member 260 in a direction orthogonal to the direction inwhich the stem 142 extends from the top surface 106. The head 144 of themale connecting member 140 of the passive portal 100 is sized to belarger than the U-shaped notch 262 such that the female connectingmember 260 must be slidingly removed from the connecting member 140 andcannot be removed from the male connecting member 140 by moving thefemale connector in the direction in which the stem 142 extends.

In some aspects, the first end wall 210 also includes a groundingportion 250 having a first opening 252 configured to receive a groundwire and a second opening 254 extending substantially perpendicular tothe first opening 252 and configured to receive a fixing member, forexample, a screw, that is threadedly received by the second opening 254.The second opening 254 extends into the first opening 252 so that thefixing member can fixedly couple the ground wire to the groundingportion 250.

A second flange portion 266 extends from the second end wall 212proximate and parallel to the bottom surface 208. The second flangeportion 266 includes openings 268, 269 configured to receive fasteners,for example, to secure the passive expansion module to a structure.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, the modular RF device 300 includes thepassive portal 100 and the passive expansion module 200 coupledtogether. For example, the passive expansion module 200 is coupled tothe passive portal 100 by coupling the female connecting member 260 ofthe passive expansion module 200 with the male connecting member 140 ofthe passive portal 100. That is, the U-shaped notch 262 of the femaleconnecting member 260 is coupled with the stem 142 of the maleconnecting member 140 by sliding the female connecting member 260 in adirection orthogonal to the direction in which the stem 142 extends. Thehead 144 of the male connecting member 140 of the passive portal 100 islarger than the U-shaped notch 262 such that the female connectingmember 260 cannot be removed from the male connecting member 140 bymoving the female connector in the direction in which the stem 142extends from the top surface 106.

When the passive expansion module 200 is coupled to the passive portal100 by coupling the female connecting member 260 of the passiveexpansion module 200 with the male connecting member 140 of the passiveportal 100, the opening 268 of the second flange portion 266 of thepassive expansion module 200 is aligned with the opening 172 of themounting portion 170 that ends from the second end wall 112 of thepassive portal 100. A fastener 390, for example, a screw, can beinserted through the opening 268 and screwed into the threaded opening172 of the mounting portion 170, thereby fixedly coupling the passiveexpansion module 200 to the passive portal 100. In some aspects, theopening 172 may be unthreaded, and the fastener may thread itself intothe opening 172.

In order to electrically couple the passive expansion module 200 withthe passive portal 100, an interconnecting cable (not shown) is run fromone of the output ports 122, 124, 126, 132, 134, 136, 138 of the passiveportal 100 to the input port 220 of the passive expansion module 200.Thus, the one port used for the interconnecting cable is sacrificed inexchange for four additional ports. As a result, the modular RF device300 provides a total of ten output ports, six from the passive portal100 and four from the passive expansion module 200.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-14, another modular RF device 1300 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure isillustrated. The modular device 1300 includes the passive RF portal 100and two passive expansion modules 1200 in accordance with variousaspects of the disclosure.

Each of the passive expansion modules 1200 includes a front surface1202, a back surface 1204, a top surface 1206, and a bottom surface1208. Each passive expansion module 1200 also includes a first end wall1210 and an opposite second end wall 1212. The front surface 1202includes a plurality of ports 1220, 1232, 1234, 1236, 1238 extendingtherefrom. According to various aspects of the disclosure, port 1220 isconfigured as an input port, and ports 1232, 1234, 1236, 1238 areconfigured as output ports. For example, ports 1232, 1234, 1236, 1238may be home ports providing only MoCA outputs.

As best illustrated in FIG. 10, a first flange portion 1256 extends fromthe first end wall 1210 proximate and parallel to the bottom surface1208. The first flange portion 1256 includes a female connecting member1260. The female connecting member 1260 includes a U-shaped notch 1262that is sized to receive the stem 142 of the male connecting member 140of the passive portal 100, but is sized smaller than the enlarged head144. The female connecting member 1260 is configured to be coupled withthe stem 142 of the male connecting member 140 by sliding the femaleconnecting member 1260 in a direction orthogonal to the direction inwhich the stem 142 extends from the top surface 106. The head 144 of themale connecting member 140 of the passive portal 100 is sized to belarger than the U-shaped notch 1262 such that the female connectingmember 1260 must be slidingly removed from the connecting member 140 andcannot be removed from the male connecting member 140 by moving thefemale connector in the direction in which the stem 142 extends.

The first flange portion 1256 also includes an opening 1264 in the firstflange portion 1256. The opening 1264 is configured to receive afastener, for example, to secure the passive expansion module 1200 to astructure.

As shown in FIGS. 10-14, an embodiment of the modular RF device 1300includes a connecting post 1380 configured to couple two passiveexpansion modules 1200 to one another. The post 1380 includes a column1382 having a length that matches a vertical distance from the topsurface 1257 of the first flange portion 1256 to the top surface 1206 ofthe passive expansion module 1200, as shown in FIG. 13. As bestillustrated in FIG. 15, the post 1380 includes a male connecting member1384 extending upward from the top of the column 1382. The maleconnecting member 1384 includes a stem 1386 with an enlarged head 1388at the end of the stem 1386 opposite to the column 1382. The post 1380allows, in theory, an unlimited number of expansion modules 1200 to bemechanically coupled together.

A second flange portion 1266 extends from the second end wall 1212proximate and parallel to the bottom surface 1208. The second flangeportion 1266 includes openings 1268, 1269 configured to receivefasteners, for example, to secure the passive expansion module to astructure.

The modular RF device 300 includes the passive portal 100 and twopassive expansion modules 1200 coupled together. For example, a firstpassive expansion module 1200′ is coupled to the passive portal 100 bycoupling the female connecting member 1260 of the passive expansionmodule 1200′ with the male connecting member 140 of the passive portal100. That is, the U-shaped notch 1262 of the female connecting member1260 is coupled with the stem 142 of the male connecting member 140 bysliding the female connecting member 1260 in a direction orthogonal tothe direction in which the stem 142 extends. The head 144 of the maleconnecting member 140 of the passive portal 100 is larger than theU-shaped notch 1262 such that the female connecting member 1260 cannotbe removed from the male connecting member 140 by moving the femaleconnector in the direction in which the stem 142 extends from the topsurface 106.

When the passive expansion module 1200 is coupled to the passive portal100 by coupling the female connecting member 1260 of the passiveexpansion module 1200 with the male connecting member 140 of the passiveportal 100, the opening 1268 of the second flange portion 1266 of thepassive expansion module is aligned with the opening 172 of the mountingportion 170 that ends from the second end wall 112 of the passive portal100. A fastener 390, for example, a screw, can be inserted through theopening 1268 and screwed into the threaded opening 172 of the mountingportion 170, thereby fixedly coupling the passive expansion module 1200to the passive portal 100. In some aspects, the opening 172 may beunthreaded, and the fastener may thread itself into the opening 172.

When a second passive expansion module 1200″ is needed, the post 1380 iscoupled with the first passive expansion module 1200′, for example, byattaching a faster 1392 to the post 1380 through the opening 1264 in thefirst flange portion 1256 of the first passive expansion module 1200′.The fastener 1392 may be, for example, a screw that is configured to bereceived by the opening 1264 in the column 1382 of the post 1380. Forexample, the fastener 1392 may thread itself into the post 1384, or thepost 1384 may include a threaded opening configured to receive thefastener 1392.

The second passive expansion module 1200″ is coupled to the firstpassive expansion module 1200′ by coupling the female connecting member1260 of the second passive expansion module 1200″ with the maleconnecting member 1384 of the post 1380. That is, the U-shaped notch1262 of the female connecting member 1260 is coupled with the stem 1386of the male connecting member 1384 by sliding the female connectingmember 1260 in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the stem1386 extends. The head 1388 of the male connecting member 1384 of thepost 1380 is larger than the U-shaped notch 1262 such that the femaleconnecting member 1260 cannot be removed from the male connecting member1384 by moving the female connecting member 1260 in the direction inwhich the stem 1386 extends from the top surface of column 1382.

When the second passive expansion module 1200″ is coupled to the firstpassive expansion module 1200′ by coupling the female connecting member1260 of the second passive expansion module 1200″ with the maleconnecting member 1384 of the post 1380, the opening 1268 of the secondflange portion 1266 of the second passive expansion module 1200″ isaligned with the opening 172 of the mounting portion 170 that ends fromthe second end wall 112 of the first passive expansion module 1200′. Afastener 390, for example, a screw, can be inserted through the opening1268 and screwed into the threaded opening 172 of the mounting portion170, thereby fixedly coupling the second passive expansion module 1200″to the first passive expansion module 1200′. In some aspects, theopening 172 may be unthreaded, and the fastener may thread itself intothe opening 172.

In order to electrically couple the passive expansion modules 1200 withthe passive portal 100, a first interconnecting cable (not shown) is runfrom one of the output ports 122, 124, 126, 132, 134, 136, 138 of thepassive portal 100 to the input port 1220 of a first one of the passiveexpansion modules 1200′. A second interconnecting cable (not shown) isrun from another one of the output ports of the passive portal 100 tothe input port 1220 of the second one of the passive expansion modules1200″ or from one of the output ports of the first one of the expansionmodules 1200′ to the input port 1220 of the second one of the passiveexpansion modules 1200″. Thus, the two ports used for theinterconnecting cables are sacrificed in exchange for eight additionalports. As a result, the modular RF device 1300 provides a total ofthirteen output ports, for example, five from the passive portal 100,four from the first passive expansion module 1200′, and four from thesecond passive expansion module 1200″ or six from the passive portal100, three from the first passive expansion module 1200′, and four fromthe second passive expansion module 1200″.

In use, according to the above-described embodiments of modular RFdevices 300, 1300, the bottom surface 108 of the passive RF portal 100is mounted against the structure 900 such as, for example, a panel,wall, or the like. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 12, the stackedarrangement of the mounted modular RF devices 300, 1300 according to thepresent disclosure provides access to all ports of the passive portal100 and the passive expansion modules 200, 1200, with all ports (andthus all cabling) extending from the modular RF devices 300, 1300 in asame direction parallel to one another. That is, the ports of thestacked passive expansion modules 200, 1200 do not block the ports ofthe passive portal 100. Further, the offset stacking configuration ofthe modular RF devices 300, 1300 allows a user (e.g., a technician) tosee labeling on the top surfaces 106, 206, 1206 of the passive portal100 and passive expansion modules 200, 1200 that identifies the variousports (e.g., input, broadband/MoCA, MoCA-only).

The stacked arrangement of the mounted modular RF devices 300, 1300according to the present disclosure also provides a minimized spatialfootprint relative to the mounting structure 900. That is, only thebottom surface 108 of the passive RF portal 100 occupies real estate onthe structure 900. And although the passive expansion modules 200, 1200expand the spatial footprint when viewed from the top of the modulardevices 300, 1300 (FIGS. 2 and 12), the footprint is only increased byportion of the passive expansion modules 200, 1200 that overlap thepassive RF portal 100. Thus, the offset stacking configuration of themodular RF devices 300, 1300 minimizes the spatial footprint, whileproviding the advantages discussed above or that are otherwiserecognized by persons of ordinary skill in the art.

Additionally, the above-described embodiments of modular RF devices 300,1300 provide a modular RF device that permits a user to expand thenumber of outputs by adding a modular unit in a manner that minimizes anincrease in the spatial footprint while allowing easy access to all ofthe ports of the modular RF device. The above-described embodiments ofmodular RF devices 300, 1300 also provide modular devices that includeinterlocking modular units that can be secured together to create anintegrated larger functional block, rather than being a mere collectionof discrete units. The above-described embodiments of modular RF devices300, 1300 further provide modular devices that permit an existing userto upgrade a passive RF device by merely adding an expansion modulewithout disrupting existing connections, thereby saving time andreducing customer inventory costs by eliminating the need to stockquantities of multiple sizes of RF devices

Additional embodiments include any one of the embodiments describedabove, where one or more of its components, functionalities orstructures is interchanged with, replaced by or augmented by one or moreof the components, functionalities, or structures of a differentembodiment described above.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to theembodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishingits intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes andmodifications be covered by the appended claims.

Although several embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed inthe foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in theart that many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure willcome to mind to which the disclosure pertains, having the benefit of theteaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings.It is thus understood that the disclosure is not limited to the specificembodiments disclosed herein above, and that many modifications andother embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein,as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in a genericand descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the presentdisclosure, nor the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular passive MoCA apparatus configured toprovide cable network connectivity to broadband devices, whileconnecting MoCA devices to the broadband devices, the apparatuscomprising: a passive RF portal that includes an input port configuredto receive a cable that provides cable network connectivity and aplurality of output ports configured to receive cables that provideelectrical connectivity with the broadband devices and the MoCA devices;and a passive RF expansion module configured to be removably coupledwith the passive RF portal, wherein the passive RF expansion moduleincludes an input port configured to receive a cable that provideselectrical connectivity with one of the plurality of output ports of thepassive RF portal and a plurality of output ports configured to receivecables that provide electrical connectivity with additional MoCAdevices, wherein the input port and the plurality of output ports of thepassive RF portal extend from a front surface of the passive RF portal,and the input port and the plurality of output ports of the passive RFexpansion module extend from a front surface of the passive RF expansionmodule, wherein the passive RF portal includes a top surface and abottom surface extending from a first pair of opposite ends of the frontsurface of the passive RF portal, the top surface and the bottom surfaceof the passive RF portal extending perpendicular to the front surface ofthe passive RF portal, wherein the bottom surface of the passive RFportal is configured to face a surface of a structure when the passiveRF portal is attached to the structure, wherein a male connector isconfigured to extend from the top surface of the passive RF portal, themale connector including a stem that is configured to extend from thetop surface of the passive RF portal and is terminated by an enlargedhead, wherein the passive RF expansion module includes a top surface anda bottom surface extending from a first pair of opposite ends of thefront surface of the passive RF expansion module, the top surface andthe bottom surface of the passive RF expansion module extendingperpendicular to the front surface of the passive RF expansion module,wherein the passive RF expansion module includes a first end wall and asecond end wall extending from a second pair of opposite ends of thefront surface of the passive RF expansion module, the first end wall andthe second end wall of the passive RF expansion module extendingperpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, and the bottomsurface of the passive RF expansion module, wherein a flange having aU-shaped notch that forms a female connector is configured to extendfrom the first end wall of the passive RF expansion portal proximatewith and parallel to the bottom surface of the passive RF expansionmodule, wherein the female connector is configured to slidingly engagethe stem of the male connector in a direction parallel to the topsurface of the passive RF portal in order to mechanically couple thepassive RF expansion module with the passive RF portal, and the head ofthe male connector is configured to prevent the female connector frombeing removed from the male connector in a direction perpendicular tothe top surface of the passive RF portal, wherein the passive RF portalincludes a first end wall and a second end wall extending from a secondpair of opposite ends of the front surface of the passive RF portal, thefirst end wall and the second end wall of the passive RF portalextending perpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, and thebottom surface of the passive RF portal, wherein a mounting portion isconfigured to extend from the second end wall of the passive RF portalproximate and parallel to the top surface of the passive RF portal,wherein a second flange is configured to extend from the second end wallof the passive RF expansion module proximate with and parallel to thebottom surface of the passive RF expansion module, and wherein themounting portion and the second flange are configured to receive afastener for fixedly coupling the passive RF expansion module to thepassive RF portal.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: asecond passive RF expansion module configured to be removably coupledwith the first passive RF expansion module; and a post configured tocouple the second passive RF expansion module with the passive RFexpansion module, wherein the second passive RF expansion moduleincludes an input port and a plurality of output ports configured toreceive cables that provide electrical connectivity with furtheradditional MoCA devices, the input port being configured to receive acable that provides electrical connectivity with either one of theplurality of output ports of the passive RF portal or one of theplurality of output ports of the passive RF expansion module, whereinthe input port and the plurality of output ports of the second passiveRF expansion module extend from a front surface of the second passive RFexpansion module, wherein the post is configured to be removably coupledwith the flange of the passive RF expansion module and includes a columnand a second male connector, the second male connector including a stemthat is configured to extend from a top surface of the column and isterminated by an enlarged head, wherein the second passive RF expansionmodule includes a top surface and a bottom surface extending from afirst pair of opposite ends of the front surface of the second passiveRF expansion module, the top surface and the bottom surface of thesecond passive RF expansion module extending perpendicular to the frontsurface of the second passive RF expansion module, wherein the secondpassive RF expansion module includes a first end wall and a second endwall extending from a second pair of opposite ends of the front surfaceof the second passive RF expansion module, the first end wall and thesecond end wall of the second passive RF expansion module extendingperpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, and the bottomsurface of the second passive RF expansion module, wherein a secondfemale connector is configured to extend from the first end wall of thesecond passive RF expansion portal proximate with and parallel to thebottom surface of the second passive RF expansion module, wherein thesecond female connector is configured to slidingly engage the stem ofthe second male connector in a direction parallel to the top surface ofthe passive RF expansion module in order to mechanically couple thesecond passive RF expansion module with the passive RF expansion module,and the head of the second male connector is configured to prevent thesecond female connector from being removed from the second maleconnector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the passiveRF expansion module, wherein a second mounting portion is configured toextend from the second end wall of the passive RF expansion moduleproximate and parallel to the top surface of the passive RF expansionmodule, wherein a third flange is configured to extend from the secondend wall of the second passive RF expansion module proximate with andparallel to the bottom surface of the second passive RF expansionmodule, and wherein the second mounting portion and the third flange areconfigured to receive a fastener for fixedly coupling the second passiveRF expansion module to the passive RF expansion module.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the passive RF expansion module is configured topartially overlap the top surface of the passive RF portal and partiallyoverhang the top surface of the passive RF portal when the passive RFexpansion module is mechanically coupled with the passive RF portal suchthat the front surface of the passive RF expansion module is offset fromthe front surface of the passive RF portal when view from a direction ofthe top surface of the passive RF portal, and wherein the input port andthe output ports of the passive RF expansion module and the input portand the output ports of the passive RF portal are configured to extendparallel to one another.
 4. A modular passive RF apparatus, comprising:a passive RF portal that includes an input port configured to receivecable network connectivity and a plurality of output ports configured toprovide electrical connectivity with a plurality of broadband devicesand a plurality of MoCA devices; and a passive RF expansion moduleconfigured to be removably coupled with the passive RF portal, whereinthe passive RF expansion module includes an input port configured toreceive electrical connectivity with one of the plurality of outputports of the passive RF portal and a plurality of output portsconfigured to provide electrical connectivity with additional MoCAdevices, wherein the input port and the plurality of output ports of thepassive RF portal extend from a front surface of the passive RF portal,and the input port and the plurality of output ports of the passive RFexpansion module extend from a front surface of the passive RF expansionmodule, wherein the passive RF portal includes a top surface and abottom surface that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to thefront surface of the passive RF portal, wherein a male connector isconfigured to extend from the top surface of the passive RF portal,wherein the passive RF expansion module includes a top surface and abottom surface that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to thefront surface of the passive RF expansion module, wherein the passive RFexpansion module includes a first end wall and a second end wall thatare parallel to one another and perpendicular to the front surface, thetop surface, and the bottom surface of the passive RF expansion module,wherein a female connector is configured to extend from the first endwall of the passive RF expansion portal, and wherein the femaleconnector is configured to slidingly engage the male connector in adirection parallel to the top surface of the passive RF portal in orderto mechanically couple the passive RF expansion module with the passiveRF portal, and the male connector is configured to prevent the femaleconnector from being removed from the male connector in a directionperpendicular to the top surface of the passive RF portal.
 5. Themodular passive RF apparatus of claim 4, wherein the passive RF portalincludes a first end wall and a second end wall extending from a secondpair of opposite ends of the front surface of the passive RF portal, thefirst end wall and the second end wall of the passive RF portalextending perpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, and thebottom surface of the passive RF portal, wherein a mounting portion isconfigured to extend from the second end wall of the passive RF portal,wherein a second flange is configured to extend from the second end wallof the passive RF expansion module, and wherein the mounting portion andthe second flange are configured to receive a fastener for fixedlycoupling the passive RF expansion module to the passive RF portal. 6.The modular passive RF apparatus of claim 4, wherein the male connectorincludes a stem that is configured to extend from the top surface of thepassive RF portal and is terminated by an enlarged head, and the flangeincludes a U-shaped notch that forms the female connector, and whereinthe female connector is configured to slidingly engage the stem of themale connector in a direction parallel to the top surface of the passiveRF portal in order to mechanically couple the passive RF expansionmodule with the passive RF portal, and the head of the male connector isconfigured to prevent the female connector from being removed from themale connector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of thepassive RF portal.
 7. The modular passive RF apparatus of claim 4,further comprising: a second passive RF expansion module configured tobe removably coupled with the first passive RF expansion module; and apost configured to couple the second passive RF expansion module withthe passive RF expansion module, wherein the second passive RF expansionmodule includes an input port and a plurality of output ports configuredto receive cables that provide electrical connectivity with furtheradditional MoCA devices, the input port being configured to receive acable that provides electrical connectivity with either one of theplurality of output ports of the passive RF portal or one of theplurality of output ports of the passive RF expansion module, whereinthe input port and the plurality of output ports of the second passiveRF expansion module extend from a front surface of the second passive RFexpansion module, wherein the post is configured to be removably coupledwith the flange of the passive RF expansion module and includes a columnand a second male connector, wherein the second passive RF expansionmodule includes a top surface and a bottom surface extending from afirst pair of opposite ends of the front surface of the second passiveRF expansion module, the top surface and the bottom surface of thesecond passive RF expansion module extending perpendicular to the frontsurface of the second passive RF expansion module, wherein the secondpassive RF expansion module includes a first end wall and a second endwall extending from a second pair of opposite ends of the front surfaceof the second passive RF expansion module, the first end wall and thesecond end wall of the second passive RF expansion module extendingperpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, and the bottomsurface of the second passive RF expansion module, wherein a secondfemale connector is configured to extend from the first end wall of thesecond passive RF expansion portal, and wherein the second femaleconnector is configured to slidingly engage the second male connector ina direction parallel to the top surface of the passive RF expansionmodule in order to mechanically couple the second passive RF expansionmodule with the passive RF expansion module, and the second maleconnector is configured to prevent the second female connector frombeing removed from the second male connector in a directionperpendicular to the top surface of the passive RF expansion module. 8.The modular passive RF apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second maleconnector includes a stem that is configured to extend from a topsurface of the column and is terminated by an enlarged head, wherein thesecond female connector includes a U-shaped notch configured toslidingly engage the stem of the second male connector in a directionparallel to the top surface of the passive RF expansion module in orderto mechanically couple the second passive RF expansion module with thepassive RF expansion module, and the head of the second male connectoris configured to prevent the second female connector from being removedfrom the second male connector in a direction perpendicular to the topsurface of the passive RF expansion module
 9. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein a second mounting portion is configured to extend from thesecond end wall of the passive RF expansion module, wherein a thirdflange is configured to extend from the second end wall of the secondpassive RF expansion module, and wherein the second mounting portion andthe third flange are configured to receive a fastener for fixedlycoupling the second passive RF expansion module to the passive RFexpansion module.
 10. A modular passive RF apparatus comprising: apassive RF portal; and a passive RF expansion module configured to beremovably coupled with the passive RF portal, wherein a male connectoris configured to extend from a top surface of the passive RF portal, anda female connector is configured to extend from an end wall of thepassive RF expansion portal, and wherein the female connector isconfigured to slidingly engage the male connector in a directionparallel to the top surface of the passive RF portal in order tomechanically couple the passive RF expansion module with the passive RFportal, and the male connector is configured to prevent the femaleconnector from being removed from the male connector in a directionperpendicular to the top surface of the passive RF portal.
 11. Themodular passive RF apparatus of claim 10, wherein the passive RF portalincludes an input port configured to receive cable network connectivityand a plurality of output ports configured to provide electricalconnectivity with at least one broadband device and at least one MoCAdevice; wherein the passive RF expansion module includes an input portconfigured to receive electrical connectivity from one of the pluralityof output ports of the passive RF portal and a plurality of output portsconfigured to provide electrical connectivity with at least oneadditional MoCA device, wherein the input port and the plurality ofoutput ports of the passive RF portal extend from a front surface of thepassive RF portal, and the input port and the plurality of output portsof the passive RF expansion module extend from a front surface of thepassive RF expansion module, wherein the passive RF portal includes thetop surface and a bottom surface that are parallel to one another andperpendicular to the front surface of the passive RF portal, wherein thepassive RF expansion module includes a top surface and a bottom surfacethat are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the front surfaceof the passive RF expansion module, wherein the passive RF expansionmodule includes the end wall and a second end wall that are parallel toone another and perpendicular to the front surface, the top surface, andthe bottom surface of the passive RF expansion module, and wherein thefemale connector is configured to slidingly engage the male connector ina direction parallel to the top surface of the passive RF portal inorder to mechanically couple the passive RF expansion module with thepassive RF portal, and the male connector is configured to prevent thefemale connector from being removed from the male connector in adirection perpendicular to the top surface of the passive RF portal. 12.The modular passive RF apparatus of claim 11, wherein the male connectorincludes a stem that is configured to extend from the top surface of thepassive RF portal and is terminated by an enlarged head, and the flangeincludes a U-shaped notch that forms the female connector.
 13. Themodular passive RF apparatus of claim 12, wherein the female connectoris configured to slidingly engage the stem of the male connector in adirection parallel to the top surface of the passive RF portal in orderto mechanically couple the passive RF expansion module with the passiveRF portal, and the head of the male connector is configured to preventthe female connector from being removed from the male connector in adirection perpendicular to the top surface of the passive RF portal. 14.The modular passive RF apparatus of claim 12, wherein a flange isconfigured to extend from the end wall of the passive RF expansionmodule and includes a U-shaped notch that forms the female connector.15. The modular passive RF apparatus of claim 10, wherein the passive RFexpansion module is configured to partially overlap the top surface ofthe passive RF portal and partially overhang the top surface of thepassive RF portal when the passive RF expansion module is mechanicallycoupled with the passive RF portal such that the front surface of thepassive RF expansion module is offset from the front surface of thepassive RF portal when view from a direction of the top surface of thepassive RF portal, and wherein the input port and the output ports ofthe passive RF expansion module and the input port and the output portsof the passive RF portal are configured to extend parallel to oneanother.
 16. The modular passive RF apparatus of claim 10, wherein thepassive RF portal includes the end wall and a second end wall that areparallel to one another and perpendicular to the front surface, the topsurface, and the bottom surface of the passive RF portal, wherein amounting portion is configured to extend from the second end wall of thepassive RF portal, wherein a second flange is configured to extend fromthe second end wall of the passive RF expansion module, and wherein themounting portion and the second flange are configured to receive afastener for fixedly coupling the passive RF expansion module to thepassive RF portal.
 17. The modular passive RF apparatus of claim 10,further comprising: a second passive RF expansion module configured tobe removably coupled with the first passive RF expansion module; and apost configured to couple the second passive RF expansion module withthe passive RF expansion module, wherein the second passive RF expansionmodule includes an input port and a plurality of output ports configuredto provide electrical connectivity with at least one further additionalMoCA device, the input port being configured to receive electricalconnectivity from either one of the plurality of output ports of thepassive RF portal or one of the plurality of output ports of the passiveRF expansion module, wherein the input port and the plurality of outputports of the second passive RF expansion module extend from a frontsurface of the second passive RF expansion module, wherein the post isconfigured to be removably coupled with the passive RF expansion module,wherein the second passive RF expansion module includes a top surfaceand a bottom surface that are parallel to one another and perpendicularto the front surface of the second passive RF expansion module, whereinthe second passive RF expansion module includes a first end wall and asecond end wall that are parallel to one another and perpendicular tothe front surface, the top surface, and the bottom surface of the secondpassive RF expansion module, wherein a second female connector isconfigured to extend from the first end wall of the second passive RFexpansion portal, and wherein the second female connector is configuredto slidingly engage the second male connector in a direction parallel tothe top surface of the passive RF expansion module in order tomechanically couple the second passive RF expansion module with thepassive RF expansion module, and the second male connector is configuredto prevent the second female connector from being removed from thesecond male connector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface ofthe passive RF expansion module.
 18. The modular passive RF apparatus ofclaim 17, wherein a flange is configured to extend from the end wall ofthe passive RF expansion module, and wherein the post is configured tobe removably coupled with the flange of the passive RF expansion moduleand includes a column and a second male connector, the second maleconnector including a stem that is configured to extend from a topsurface of the column and is terminated by an enlarged head.
 19. Themodular passive RF apparatus of claim 18, wherein the female connectorincludes a U-shaped notch configured to slidingly engage the stem of thesecond male connector in a direction parallel to the top surface of thepassive RF expansion module in order to mechanically couple the secondpassive RF expansion module with the passive RF expansion module, andthe head of the second male connector is configured to prevent thesecond female connector from being removed from the second maleconnector in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the passiveRF expansion module
 20. The modular passive RF apparatus of claim 19,wherein a second mounting portion is configured to extend from thesecond end wall of the passive RF expansion module, wherein a thirdflange is configured to extend from the second end wall of the secondpassive RF expansion module, and wherein the second mounting portion andthe third flange are configured to receive a fastener for fixedlycoupling the second passive RF expansion module to the passive RFexpansion module.